Like so many Americans all across the country, Barack and I were shocked and heartbroken by the horrific act of violence committed in Arizona this past weekend. Yesterday, we had the chance to attend a memorial service and meet with some of the families of those who lost their lives, and both of us were deeply moved by their strength and resilience in the face of such unspeakable tragedy.

As parents, an event like this hits home especially hard. It makes our hearts ache for those who lost loved ones. It makes us want to hug our own families a little tighter. And it makes us think about what an event like this says about the world we live in - and the world in which our children will grow up.

In the days and weeks ahead, as we struggle with these issues ourselves, many of us will find that our children are struggling with them as well. The questions my daughters have asked are the same ones that many of your children will have - and they don't lend themselves to easy answers. But they will provide an opportunity for us as parents to teach some valuable lessons - about the character of our country, about the values we hold dear, and about finding hope at a time when it seems far away.

We can teach our children that here in America, we embrace each other, and support each other, in times of crisis. And we can help them do that in their own small way - whether it's by sending a letter, or saying a prayer, or just keeping the victims and their families in their thoughts.

We can teach them the value of tolerance - the practice of assuming the best, rather than the worst, about those around us. We can teach them to give others the benefit of the doubt, particularly those with whom they disagree.

We can also teach our children about the tremendous sacrifices made by the men and women who serve our country and by their families. We can explain to them that although we might not always agree with those who represent us, anyone who enters public life does so because they love their country and want to serve it.

Christina Green felt that call. She was just nine years old when she lost her life. But she was at that store that day because she was passionate about serving others. She had just been elected to her school's student council, and she wanted to meet her Congresswoman and learn more about politics and public life.

And that's something else we can do for our children - we can tell them about Christina and about how much she wanted to give back. We can tell them about John Roll, a judge with a reputation for fairness; about Dorothy Morris, a devoted wife to her husband, her high school sweetheart, to whom she'd been married for 55 years; about Phyllis Schneck, a great-grandmother who sewed aprons for church fundraisers; about Dorwan Stoddard, a retired construction worker who helped neighbors down on their luck; and about Gabe Zimmerman, who did community outreach for Congresswoman Giffords, working tirelessly to help folks who were struggling, and was engaged to be married next year. We can tell them about the brave men and women who risked their lives that day to save others. And we can work together to honor their legacy by following their example - by embracing our fellow citizens; by standing up for what we believe is right; and by doing our part, however we can, to serve our communities and our country.

To the person who cannot understand why a person does not sign their name to postings.

That would be very dangerous to rile someone on these post who may be very dangerous to reveal who they are.

You read these post and you clearly see there are very angry racist people posting or those who are very militant who may be capable of harming others.

In my city alone there were two women corresponding from 2 different states and the one got angry at the other and came after her to kill her and fortunately the police stopped her in time outside of her home.
This is why you never reveal you name and address to these characters that lurk all over the internet.

With that said I do think rules and regulations should be upheld and monitored daily to the rhetoric and people banned from posting their hate agenda.

If it is politics or what ever else you think, at least it shows sympathy of first lady for her countrymen.....in our country Afghanistan lots of children are killed everday, our first lady Zinat Karzai is enjoying life in Dubai. Sadiq from Kabul

If it is politics or what ever else you think, at least it shows sympathy of first lady for her countrymen.....in our country Afghanistan lots of children are killed everday, our first lady Zinat Karzai is enjoying life in Dubai.

That was a beautiful letter written by a very wonderful first lady. I am proud to have Michelle represent our country.

ps to CARLBATY - the person who referred to her as a cow and mentioned the t shirts: the t-shirts were from the university, their idea and provided by them at no cost to taxpayers for people to have something to remind them of how everyone came together that day for the victims

your ugliness must make your life such a sorrowful exeperience- I am so glad I am not you or part of your life

That was a beautiful letter written by a very wonderful first lady. I am proud to have Michelle represent our country.

ps to CARLBATY - the person who referred to her as a cow and mentioned the t shirts: the t-shirts were from the university, their idea and provided by them at no cost to taxpayers for people to have something to remind them of how everyone came together that day for the victims

your ugliness must make your life such a sorrowful exeperience- I am so glad I am not you or part of your life

That was a beautiful letter written by a very wonderful first lady. I am proud to have Michelle represent our country.

ps to CARLBATY - the person who referred to her as a cow and mentioned the t shirts: the t-shirts were from the university, their idea and provided by them at no cost to taxpayers for people to have something to remind them of how everyone came together that day for the victims

your ugliness must make your life such a sorrowful exeperience- I am so glad I am not you or part of your life

Somebody tell this ugly,self serving cow and her hollow shell of a man Obozo it's bad form to turn someone else's funeral into a sleazy democrat political rally, complete wiht ACORN style T shirts. How low rent!!
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Would you even have the courage to say such things if you had to sign your real name to it?? I seriously doubt you would.

Mr. Arpad, I think we got the point the first two times you posted. Perhaps you would be more comfortable living somewhere where the First Amendment isn't a nuisance for you. We have a right yo express the view that the White House has exhibited crass pre-campaign opportunism because of the murder of a little girl. I'm pretty sure no one appointed you as board nanny.

I do not understand why the Post allows people to anonymously comment on letters to the editor. Journalism standards in the past required full disclosure of the letter writer, a limit on the number of letters that would be published over a period of time, and editorial control of what was said in the letter. The negative remarks here, esp. immediately after the letter was published, cannot possibly be considered acceptable journalism. Please stop this practice. It is not contributing anything good to this country. Dr. Joseph Arpad

I do not understand why the Post allows people to anonymously comment on letters to the editor. Journalism standards in the past required full disclosure of the letter writer, a limit on the number of letters that would be published over a period of time, and editorial control of what was said in the letter. The negative remarks here, esp. immediately after the letter was published, cannot possibly be considered acceptable journalism. Please stop this practice. It is not contributing anything good to this country. Dr. Joseph Arpad

I do not understand why the Post allows people to anonymously comment on letters to the editor. Journalism standards in the past required full disclosure of the letter writer, a limit on the number of letters that would be published over a period of time, and editorial control of what was said in the letter. The negative remarks here, esp. immediately after the letter was published, cannot possibly be considered acceptable journalism. Please stop this practice. It is not contributing anything good to this country. Dr. Joseph Arpad

Better to teach them the Prayer of Saint Francis Assisi - "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darknessm light, and where there is sadness, joy"!

Posted by: richardobrochta | January 15, 2011 10:08 AM

The left is godless, so why even bother? It would still be falling on deaf ears.

So sorry Michelle, but the writer Somerset Maugham once wrote - "Tolerance is another word for indifference"! We must never tolerate any 'liars, cowards, thieves, murderers, rapists, drug addicts or pushers'! You words fall on deaf ears, since as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe stated, "Tolerance comes with age"! Children who have no discipline, morals or responsiblities, and who could care less, will never ever learn!
Better to teach them the Prayer of Saint Francis Assisi - "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darknessm light, and where there is sadness, joy"!

My only comment is: where was her letter to military children after the Ft.Hood massacre ?

Posted by: ryebeach | January 15, 2011 6:48 AM

You may recall that the President emphatically demanded that we not "rush to judgment" on that one. So I guess the First Couple is still trying to decide if victims of Muslim violence are worthy of their attention.

It was a shamelessly opportunistic campaign speech. Her platitudes make it insultingly obvious that she is completely out of touch with us regular folks. I can't wait to see this phony pack up her designer life and take it back to Chicago in 2012.

What a wonderful letter spoken straight from the heart. I am frustrated about many of the mean-spirited comments from people who have lost touch with their humanity. How does this letter strive for any political gain? Those who see that intention are beyond sad and have lost touch with reality.

If Ms Obama had written this at any other time I might think more kindly about it. But the fact that her husband is likely very soon to announce his "campaign" for 2012 makes this suspect in its intention. Whatever the content, whatever presumed good intentions there may be, it is still a campaign oriented epistle, meant to make the Obamas look like regular, everyday folk, which they are not.

Michelle, it doesn't take a "village" to raise a child,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~You're WRONG noway, you are wrong, IF the child is from a culture that allows their girl children to cat around the neighborhood, and she's not aware of just who the father is, out of the large number of sperm donors she's harvested from. So it DOES take a village, noway, but that village SHOULD do what it can to CHANGE their ways.

Michelle, it doesn't take a "village" to raise a child, despite what your lefty mentors have instructed you to believe. We don't need your supercilious help nor your insipid advice because you think our kids are too fat or that you somehow know more about parenting. You are "wife of"--go bake some cookies and learn what it's like to actually parent your own children.

You so-called "adults" spewing your hate on here are more immature than most 10 yr olds I know. I think Michele got it wrong, we should be talking about teaching the "adults" in the country, not the actual children. Cuz Lord knows, most the children have more sense and compassion than you hateful human beings do.

Michelle, no one cares what you think. You are the insignificant "wife of" who moved up thanks to affirmative action and marrying the right guy. And you're not even raising your own kids, your mom is. Stay home, bake cookies and stop subjecting us to your race-baiting, America-hating drivel.

Michelle Obama should be ashamed of herself! Yes, President Obama gave a very heart felt speech at the service in Tucson and because of it his poll number went up slightly. Having seen his numbers rise Michelle opted to write "an open letter to parents" in an effort to get the numbers even higher. That, or she believes that her husband getting elected President automatically makes her "Super Mom".
There is no valid reason for her "open letter". All she did was repeat the information that has been in the news for the past several days, and tell us what we can teach our children as though we are all sub par parents.
Well, here is an open letter to Michelle Obama:

Dear Michelle,

your willingness to exploit the tragic events of January 9th, 2011 for political gain are deplorable.
You are not qualified to give advice to the parents of this country. You are a middle aged unemployed woman who still refuses to stay home with her children, instead relying on your mother to raise your children for you.
The purpose of your "open letter" is obvious and frankly I am disgusted by the notion of our nations First Lady being such a heartless person as to use the death of a 9 year old child for political advancement.

Abortion is all some of us can talk about, and we close our bowels of compassion to other people's pain because some people who are pro choice choose to express pain in the death of a child. What a shame.

Posted by: clarendon67 | January 14, 2011 10:23 AM |

===============================

"Bowels" of compassion? Really? Kindly keep your bowels closed when you are in polite society, thank you, because what comes out of your mouth should actually be coming out that end anyway.

To NoWayNotNow: Your posted comment is simply twisted, and your ridiculous rant against the First Lady's sincere and meaningful letter is totally unnecessary. Abortion is a matter of personal choice, and I can recall when former Republican New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman ran for public office, she made it a point to inform voters that she was not a pro-life candidate.

I find it hard to find words to describe how the comments of 'NoWayNotNow & tjmlrc', make a person feel. Therefore the best response to such comments is none at all.

Posted by: xxx1
*******************************************
I am still waiting to hear what comments I made that were hurtful, hateful, etc.
I stated my opinion, without name calling. So what is is the so horrifies you about my postings?

I find it hard to find words to describe how the comments of 'NoWayNotNow & tjmlrc', make a person feel. Therefore the best response to such comments is none at all.

To the others posting here, may I suggest not responding. They remind me of an ex-girlfriend, the more I tried to discuss our disagreement, the more she spat out more vile comments. Until one day I realised I was contributing by trying to respond in a rational way. So I stopped responding. That was the last I heard from her.

Thank you First lady, i have a 10 year old daughter and 9 year old son. I will be reading this to them this evening. Stay strong.

I did not agree with most of her husband's policies and I did not vote for him, but Laura Bush is a caring, thoughtful, and wonderful person whose tenure as First Lady of United States was, in my opinion, nearly flawless. Mrs. Obama's letter could well have been written by Mrs. Bush, who herself offered sage and comforting words to parents eager to console their frightened and grieving children and make some sense of the senseless tragedy that was 911. And I, for one, was grateful for Mrs. Bush's calm and comforting words and demeanor during that time. (Not that it is in anyway related to the tragedy of Tuscon, but regarding the abortion issue, I believe Mrs. Bush is Pro-Choice.)

So, what is motivating the hateful comments regarding Mrs. Obama? I will not assign motives. One has to look deep into his or her own heart to find the answers. My hope is that he or she will then be true to self and own up to what is really driving such harsh and cynical rhetoric. Only then, will one find a path out of the wilderness of hatred and vitriol and into the warm cleansing sunlight of peace.

In this age of the black media consistently telling my girls they should worship some gyrating entertainer or idiot athlete I'm so proud Pres Obama knew who should stand by his side to make history...who should be the mother of his gorgoeus children!!!

Even when you're being attacked by other "jealous' mothers who have children who disgrace them you maintian dignity, class and remember you represent BLACK women who value education and motherhood!!!! I knew what you meant when you said "Finally I'm proud to be an American" because sometimes the ignorance WE face can make us want to pack up and join Tina Turner! hahahaha

Thank you for taking up the cause of the military and children because I fall into both categories and I'm VERY proud of what you stand for!!! Exhale exhale

I am so proud to see a letter to parents from the White House published in the WashPost about the tragedy in Tuscon. This letter is an excellent tool to use when answering some difficult questions from our youngsters. Some parents/teachers may not have the skills to give an appropriate answer to inquisitive questions but if they read this letter, they can use it as a guide to assist getting our children through this nightmare! Now is the time to be role models and make a difference in the lives of people around us. Thank you Mrs. Obama and Washington Post.

Rational persons read Mrs. Obama's letter, consider carefully the points she makes and evaluate the merits of those points.

Rational persons don't expect her letter to address every concern that is "off topic" and don't accuse her of the sin of omission. Nor do they criticize her positions on other issues not pertinent to the occasion.

Rational persons don't dismiss the message because they dislike the messenger (however justified they think their reasons for disliking the messenger). [One way for us all to assess whether or not we do this is to imagine the very same words coming from the mouth of someone we do like/admire/respect. Imagine, for example, that Laura Bush had written the letter (and, gracious lady that she is, I'm betting that she would say something similar)--would you agree with the message or not?]

Rational persons reflect on whether or not their comments will improve the discourse before breaking the silence.

I thank you Mrs. Obama, First Lady of my country, The United States of America, for these words. I'm currently in India for the next few years, and my children ask, "Is this what happens there mommy?" And I say "No baby, people are crazy and evil all over the world and they do this." My daughter 10 was just elected as a captain of her house, so for her it hit home. She said, "Will someone crazy try to kill me, if I grow up and become the president." I don't know how to answer this one. I follow Mr. President's mom's example and teach my children about what is USA and its history and people it love of freedom, kindness, but I also know with freedom comes responsibility. Thank you for giving me guidance on how to talk to my children about this horrible, horrible incident...

I thank you Mrs. Obama, First Lady of my country, The United States of America, for these words. I'm currently in India for the next few years, and my children ask, "Is this what happens there mommy?" And I say "No baby, people are crazy and evil all over the world and they do this." My daughter 10 was just elected as a captain of her house, so for her it hit home. She said, "Will someone crazy try to kill me, if I grow up and become the president." I don't know how to answer this one. I follow Mr. President's mom's example and teach my children about what is USA and its history and people it love of freedom, kindness, but I also know with freedom comes responsibility. Thank you for giving me guidance on how to talk to my children about this horrible, horrible incident...

As I read some of these comments, I wonder why some of you can't open your hearts just a little to take in the actual pain of this week's events. Haven't we had enough vitriol? Look at your child or grandchild or the little ones at the playground. Enough already. Stop screaming at each other... stop calling each other names... stop attributing evil motives to every word said by another.

I choose to believe the First Lady spoke from her heart. She has a nine year old daughter, the same age as the child killed in Tucson. Her mother lives with them - she must see her mother as she sees these dead mothers and grandmothers.

As I read some of these comments, I wonder why some of you can't open your hearts just a little to take in the actual pain of this week's events. Haven't we had enough vitriol? Look at your child or grandchild or the little ones at the playground. Enough already. Stop screaming at each other... stop calling each other names... stop attributing evil motives to every word said by another.

I choose to believe the First Lady spoke from her heart. She has a nine year old daughter, the same age as the child killed in Tucson. Her mother lives with them - she must see her mother as she sees these dead mothers and grandmothers.

As I read some of these comments, I wonder why some of you can't open your hearts just a little to take in the actual pain of this week's events. Haven't we had enough vitriol? Look at your child or grandchild or the little ones at the playground. Enough already. Stop screaming at each other... stop calling each other names... stop attributing evil motives to every word said by another.

I choose to believe the First Lady spoke from her heart. She has a nine year old daughter, the same age as the child killed in Tucson. Her mother lives with them - she must see her mother as she sees these dead mothers and grandmothers.

Your kids are FAT, and you are too stupid to raise them. Why didn't you abort them? The Government would have paid for it. Anyway, now that this crappy nation is stuck with your carbon-emitting spawn, and I was given this PR role for 4 years, we may as well try to make your little slugs useful cogs in Barack's new society. As such, the Government will now be in charge of feeding them.

Your kids are FAT, and you are too stupid to raise them. Why didn't you abort them? The Government would have paid for it. Anyway, now that this crappy nation is stuck us with your carbon-emitting spawn, and I was given this PR role for 4 years, we may as well try to make your little slugs useful cogs in Barack's new society. As such, the Government will now be in charge of feeding them.

Your kids are FAT, and you are too stupid to raise them. Why didn't you abort them? The Government would have paid for it. Anyway, now that this crappy nation is stuck us with your carbon-emitting spawn, and I was given this PR role for 4 years, we may as well try to make your little slugs useful cogs in Barack's new society. As such, the Government will now be in charge of feeding them.

The problem is that you don't KNOW the source. You know, perhaps, what some people have said about her, mostly negative, because they are not from the same political party.
>>
Yes. I do KNOW the source. One only needs to listen to her.

You speak out of ignorance, not knowledge.
Stay on topic.
>>
The topic is senseless murder........

If you want to speak about abortion, go to another forum.
>>
You call it abortion.
I call it senseless murder.
As senseless as the AZ murders.
Murder is murder is murder.
Ft. Hood, AZ, the abortion clinic.
Obama didn't have much to say at the Ft. Hood massacre. Wonder why?

Children,Children,Children, thats all you hear about with this one. Didnt hear squat about the children with the last one or the one before that. If there was not a politician involved there would be no tv coverage,no 24 hr news about it and no 1st lady letter. get real media types and political junkies this kinda crap happens everyday in all large cities and if you didnt live there you wouldnt hear about it. Its just another face time moment. A wise man once said that politics is show biz for ugly people and with all the fake tears and blame thrown at each other I cant come to another conclusion,can you?

Abortion is all some of us can talk about, and we close our bowels of compassion to other people's pain because some people who are pro choice choose to express pain in the death of a child. What a shame.

Not to belittle the moment, but I find some spiritual coincidences in this event. Christina Green. I find her name and her promise bittersweet. Born on 9/11/2001 she was a new light to shine on a past that became blighted. Her name Christina can't be by accident, for it also alludes to a more civil, understanding life. Green is the color of regeneration and vitality. She had no time to study the distinction between parties, isms, the nature of man. She was virginal to the world's ways. She may have been, once again, one of a new generation that would lead us out of the darkened woods. I sincerely hope we memorialize her and her fellow fallen by sharing their vision - I dream, I hope, I will.

Children,Children,Children, thats all you hear about with this one. Didnt hear squat about the children with the last one or the one before that. If there was not a politician involved there would be no tv coverage,no 24 hr news about it and no 1st lady letter. get real media types and political junkies this kinda crap happens everyday in all large cities and if you didnt live there you wouldnt hear about it. Its just another face time moment. A wise man once said that politics is show biz for ugly people and with all the fake tears and blame thrown at each other I cant come to another conclusion,can you?

"We can teach them the value of tolerance - the practice of assuming the best, rather than the worst, about those around us. We can teach them to give others the benefit of the doubt, particularly those with whom they disagree."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If I didn't know the source, I might think this came from a good and caring person, however,
How can one tell their own child that dessert is not a "right" but taking the life of an unborn child is a "right" and then feign sorrow when someone else takes a child's life?

Sadly, she has proven that she is no lady.
************************************
The problem is that you don't KNOW the source. You know, perhaps, what some people have said about her, mostly negative, because they are not from the same political party.

You speak out of ignorance, not knowledge.
Stay on topic.

If you want to speak about abortion, go to another forum.

And as for why this happened, the causes and reasons for mental illness are varied. Suffice it to say that there is a fine balance in this area, particularly in the availability of care and the ability to diagnose between eccentric and mentally ill. Also, it is hard to force a mentally ill person to take medication or maintain treatment, as some medications do produce side effects. I think to cover this topic with a child would be best handled by the parent. I can imagine there would be a lot of questions and a lot of explaining.

As for why he didn't get care, let's ask those who seek to eliminate the new Health Care bill. Perhaps the coverage to age 26 would have helped in getting Jared Loughner some help.

Your words are comforting and healing. It is difficult to discuss such a tortuous event such as the tragedy in Tucson to a child. You did it beautifully and I hope that parents of small children are inspired by your words when their children ask WHY?

I am proud that you are our First Lady and I support all your work you have done for children and families. It is easy to believe that you care as deeply as your husband. There is much ugliness being spoken in our great country today and you and the President are gracious enough to rise above it and serve as the example of love of our country and our people and not melting down to fear and anguish.

May God Bless you and your family and keep you safe. And may God bless us all and keep us all loving and taking care of our neighbors.

Too bad she completely missed the point of this tragedy. to Elisa2's point, why didn't she mention how we as mutual citizens of the country can do more to understand and assist those who suffer from mental illness?
Parents should know more about it as it may come their way.

I would say the same to you. NOthing I said was in hatred. It was in disagreement with what people say and what they do.

It seems to me that your intolerance of my differing of opinion,(which maybe you feel I'm not entitled to) is another way for you to try and twist this into a racist moment. Who said anything about the "people in the White House?"
You brought that into the equation. Perhaps some self examination would shine a light on your intolerances.

It is terribly sad that some of the folks posting on this site cannot drop their hatred for persons who have different political views than their own. This is a letter from a woman who as First Lady and as a Mother is reaching out to those parents who may be struggling with how to explain to their children, the terrible events that took place in Arizona. It must be very hard for President and Mrs. Obama to deal with the death of little Christina Green. Having two young daughters of their own, and being such a high profile couple, the Obama's have to be concerned about the safety of their daughters, every second of every day. Unlike other parents, they have to deal with the fact that there are people who hate the idea of having the Obama family in the White House and their hatred for them has not changed in the two years they have been there (as evidenced by some of the comments made to this article). tjmirc, NoWayNotNow, and others, please learn some tolerance for people who may not agree with your politial views or look like you. You would be happier and so would the majority of us.

It is terribly sad that some of the folks posting on this site cannot drop their hatred for persons who have different political views than their own. This is a letter from a woman who as First Lady and as a Mother is reaching out to those parents who may be struggling with how to explain to their children, the terrible events that took place in Arizona. It must be very hard for President and Mrs. Obama to deal with the death of little Christina Green. Having two young daughters of their own, and being such a high profile couple, the Obama's have to be concerned about the safety of their daughters, every second of every day. Unlike other parents, they have to deal with the fact that there are people who hate the idea of having the Obama family in the White House and their hatred for them has not changed in the two years they have been there (as evidenced by some of the comments made to this article). tjmirc, NoWayNotNow, and others, please learn some tolerance for people who may not agree with your politial views or look like you. You would be happier and so would the majority of us.

It is terribly sad that some of the folks posting on this site cannot drop their hatred for persons who have different political views than their own. This is a letter from a woman who as First Lady and as a Mother is reaching out to those parents who may be struggling with how to explain to their children, the terrible events that took place in Arizona. It must be very hard for President and Mrs. Obama to deal with the death of little Christina Green. Having two young daughters of their own, and being such a high profile couple, the Obama's have to be concerned about the safety of their daughters, every second of every day. Unlike other parents, they have to deal with the fact that there are people who hate the idea of having the Obama family in the White House and their hatred for them has not changed in the two years they have been there (as evidenced by some of the comments made to this article). tjmirc, NoWayNotNow, and others, please learn some tolerance for people who may not agree with your politial views or look like you. You would be happier and so would the majority of us.

Sadly, comments like those left by tjmirc and NoWayNotNow speak for themselves. I would have hpoed that we would all learn something from this tragedy -- I just can't understand the hate that people can hold in their hearts -- and that they can't put it aside even during a time like this.

This is a wonderful, heartfelt letter and we are privileged to have Mrs. Obama as our first lady.

Posted by: jersey407
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My comments were not hateful.

It was a comparison of the words of those who hold themselves above others, versus the actions of those same people.

Sadly, comments like those left by tjmirc and NoWayNotNow speak for themselves. I would have hpoed that we would all learn something from this tragedy -- I just can't understand the hate that people can hold in their hearts -- and that they can't put it aside even during a time like this.

This is a wonderful, heartfelt letter and we are privileged to have Mrs. Obama as our first lady.

How can one tell their own child that dessert is not a "right" but taking the life of an unborn child is a "right" and then feign sorrow when someone else takes a child's life? Sadly, she has proven that she is no lady. Posted by: tjmlrc
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Stay on topic, bonehead. This isn't about your views on abortion or choice. Dolts such as you even have to pay out their dopey political agenda no matter what the issue. Take it and shove it.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
I would like to name call like you but thankfully, I'm a conservative and although I'm tempted, I'll not act like a leftist liberal.
This is about death.
And the true perceptions of those who profess to abhor violence.
Abortion is a violence. AS nonsensical as that perpetrated in AZ.
If I hadn't hit your nerve, you wouldn't be so immature in your response.
That speaks for itself.

How can one tell their own child that dessert is not a "right" but taking the life of an unborn child is a "right" and then feign sorrow when someone else takes a child's life? Sadly, she has proven that she is no lady. Posted by: tjmlrc
-------

Stay on topic, bonehead. This isn't about your views on abortion or choice. Dolts such as you even have to pay out their dopey political agenda no matter what the issue. Take it and shove it.

"We can teach them the value of tolerance - the practice of assuming the best, rather than the worst, about those around us. We can teach them to give others the benefit of the doubt, particularly those with whom they disagree."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If I didn't know the source, I might think this came from a good and caring person, however,
How can one tell their own child that dessert is not a "right" but taking the life of an unborn child is a "right" and then feign sorrow when someone else takes a child's life?

"We can teach them the value of tolerance - the practice of assuming the best, rather than the worst, about those around us. We can teach them to give others the benefit of the doubt, particularly those with whom they disagree."
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If I didn't know the source, I might think this came from a good and caring person, however,
How can one tell their own child that dessert is not a "right" but taking the life of an unborn child is a "right" and then feign sorrow when someone else takes a child's life?

If you have no positive thoughts to say, just ask yourself, am I losing my soul? Do I have a conscience? Why am I so negative? Am I using excuses for my own prejudice? Have I lost touch with reality? Am I loving? Remember, the killer did not start out positive. His attitude built up until his hate consumed him.

I wish that the First Lady had added something about how to deal with the reality of the dark side of humanity . . . that fear is real, though probably unspoken, for parents and how do you deal with a child's fears that you can't do something as simple as go to a community meeting at a grocery store without the possibility of an evil person coming in and gunning down a group for no reason.

From all accounts, Christina Green was an exceptional child who might well have gone on to make a positive mark on the world. Now we will never know. I can't get too worked up about politics thinking about her.

I want to thank all adults, caretakers, mothers, parents, relatives of young children who see such damage to children ...to thank them for their wisdom, caring and kindness in helping children who wonder and ask why children are killed in our country and ...even all over the world. It is a huge job. Thank you, to Mrs. Obama and all the often teachers,women and men who will try to explain and help our children survive the events in Arizona.

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